Singapore: Rides the medtech wave

BioSpectrum Asia Top 20 Survey: Singapore continues with its efforts to further enhance its biomedical sciences cluster, by creating synergies across R&D, manufacturing and business development activities particularly in the domain of medical technology

Singapore continues to enhance its biomedical sciences cluster

With an aim to become the number 1 hotspot for global bioscience industry in Asia, Singapore has committed $13.05 billion (S$16.1 billion) in continued support of research, innovation and enterprise activities between 2011 and 2015. Out of this, $2.9 billion is dedicated to enhancing existing biomedical R&D infrastructure, integrating multi-disciplinary research and translating basic science into tangible outcomes.

To further facilitate the translation of science into viable healthcare solutions through public-private partnerships, Singapore has set up Biomedical Sciences Industry Partnership Office as a single point of contact for matching companies' R&D needs, with the expertise of Singapore's research hospitals, academic and public research institutions.

Continues to strengthen R&D base Garnering confidence of the international pharmaceutical industry, Singapore has further attracted foreign companies to set up their base. Japan's Chugai Pharmabody Research setup Singapore's first corporate laboratory in antibody engineering, and committed $161 million in antibody research over the next five years. The initiative opened opportunities for 60 researchers. The facility, located at Biopolis, is Chugai's second satellite research institute, following PharmaLogicals Research, which was established in 2002 as a joint venture.

Similarly, other international giants like Merck, Sharp & Dohme (MSD) also announced the expansion of its presence in Singapore by investing $565 million on local research activities and training collaborations between Singapore and its global sites. Besides investing for its plug and play hub, foreign companies are also joining hands with Singapore hospitals and healthcare centres to extend their support. Bayer HealthCare has invested $11.7 million into cancer research in Singapore and has partnered with local hospitals, universities and research institutes to improve the early diagnosis of cancer, and treatment outcomes for cancer patients.